Out of Time

Not knowing how this ends well that's a chance I'm willing to take. I keep thinking tonight is my last night on earth. The fear is unreal. Never have I experienced so much dread. I run and I run until it feels like my legs will buckle underneath me. My heart beat is so loud that it drowns out everything else. I'm going to die, I accept that now. Its not an easy conclusion to come to but I'm out of time and out of luck. I cant seem to lose them no matter how fast or how far I've come.

Again I'm hiding behind another tall stockade fence. The thing must be at least six feet high yet its not enough to keep me hidden. And off I go again. I'm running faster than humanly possible yet I feel like its no use. I make my way through the streets of town but there's always someone waiting to hurt me. I notice a chain link fence behind a brick building and I climb over it. Its pitch dark there are no lights on inside. I think about breaking a window and hiding inside for the night. But what if they find me?

I'm not ready to die. There are so many things I still have yet to do. I find a row of thick hedges and I fall down behind them. I am only going to rest for a moment. My lungs hurt from the constant way I'm pushing myself. I close my eyes. Maybe this is all a nightmare. And I'll wake up and be safe in my bed. I know I must keep moving to avoid getting caught. I take off again and this time I'm really moving. I need to find a safe place to lay low for awhile. But they are closing in, I begin to hear the footsteps again just as I approach another home.

I find some relief beside a metal shed. I can hear them shouting to each other. "Where is she?" "You better find her! Don't let her get away!" I break out into a cold sweat. A light comes on in an upstairs window. I have to get someone's attention. They might be my only hope. I manage to get to the sliding glass doors and I begin to knock. Then I wait. Another light comes on inside. I knock again this time more urgent. I take a deep breath as I notice a person in the house approaching the doors. Within seconds the doors are unlocked. My eyes try to adjust to the figure standing in front of me. He is an elderly man dressed in a robe and slippers.

"Can I help you?" he says. "Yes, please I'm in trouble. I need help, their trying to kill me." his eyes grow wild and I realize he is scared. "Who? Where are they? " "I don't know their names sir. Can I please come inside? I don't think I can run anymore." He lets me enter and looks out into the darkness of his yard. I reach for his sleeve. "Please shut the door! Their coming." He slides it into place and locks it. "We need to get you out of harms way."

"I have tried that all night. Can I use your phone?" He points to his stairs. I shake my head. "You might be safer up there. I live alone and I have plenty of spaces for you to hide." We climb the stairs together. When we enter the hall he shuts off the light above us. I begin to cry. "More chances of being seen with it on. Try and relax. I think its going to be ok. No one saw you come inside." I wipe my tears. "I didn't want to ask for help but they were closing in so I had no choice. Can I call the police on your phone? Mine is dead."

"Yes of course, I'll go get it for you." He heads toward his bedroom while I stand and wait. He returns with a cordless phone in his left hand. "Thank you." I reply. I take it from his outstretched hand. I put the phone next to my ear. There's no dial tone. "Its dead. Do you have a cell?" He shakes his head. "No, I've never owned one. You should let me take you to the police station." "I don't want them to see us. We need to wait. Maybe I can use your bathroom." He points toward the second door on the left. I rush towards it. Inside his bathroom, I throw water on my face. I can hear the man coughing from the hallway.

I turn off the water and glance around the room. The doorbell rings and I jump. I open the bathroom door. "Don't let them inside, please. They'll kill us both. Maybe I should go, you've been very kind." We hear the doorbell again. "I have a gun. Its yours if you want it." We rush towards his bedroom. I start to hear pounding coming from downstairs. He tells me I can get onto his roof from one of the windows. I look down at my hands and realize I'm shaking. The man opens his closet reaches inside a safe and pulls out a hand gun. He gives it to me. "Have you ever shot a gun before?" He asks. "No, but I'll figure it out pretty quick. Thank you for everything. Come with me."

"No, I'm too slow. I'll stay here and stall them. Buy you some time. My neighbor is a retired detective. He lives only three doors down. You'll need his help." I hug him quickly and then get myself out the window and onto the roof. "Good luck, now go on!" I stay low as I crawl across his roof. Noises coming from inside the house have me wishing I never involved this poor man. I manage to get to the other side of the roof and I start to sit up. I look out and see no one from my vantage point. I'm debating jumping off the side when I notice a wooden ladder leaning against the gutters. I sigh. I go down as fast as I can until I reach the ground. I sprint down the long driveway never looking behind me. In the street I try and catch my breath.

I think about getting to the detectives house. Its so close yet it feels so far. I hope I make it there before I collapse. I make my way through a thick line of trees that borders the next two properties. I can see the third house coming into view and I pray that the detective answers the door. On his porch I frantically pound on the door until it opens. "What the hell is going on? Do you know what time it is?" "Yes, I'm sorry. I need your help. People are chasing me, their trying to kill me." His face changes and he springs into action. He pulls me inside and slams the door shut. "Now tell me why they're after you?" "Because I stole their money and they killed my family. Will you help me?" "Lets go." He leads the way to his den. I watch him open his gun cabinet and then he loads a shot gun. He makes a few phone calls and then returns to my side. "The local police are on their way. You'll need to make a statement. Did they hurt you?" I shake my head. As the gravity of my situation sinks in I realize how lucky I am to be alive. And I know I never would have survived the night without the help of two strangers.